The World Bank Honors World AIDS Day 2009

Dec 1st, 2009 5:56 PM UTC
By Pooja Gupta

To mark World AIDS Day 2009 today, the World Bank hosted a robust panel of speakers under the theme of “Keeping the Promise, Investing in the Future: Linking HIV/AIDS, Food Security and Maternal and Child Health.”

Debrework Zewdie, Director of Global HIV/AIDS Program at the World Bank moderated the discussion, which featured remarks from Bob Zoellick, President of the World Bank Group, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Managing Director at the Bank, and Beldina Atieno, a teacher and mother living with HIV in Kenya, who put a personal face on the numbers and statistics.

Jack Lew, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State and Jean Pape, Director of GHESKIO in Haiti both addressed the audience as well, and were followed by a panel discussion featuring Eric Goosby, the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator, Michel Kazatchkine, Executive Director of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria, Joy Phumpahi, Former Minister of Health in Botswana and Julian Schweitzer, Acting Vice President of the Human Development Network. Frank Sesno, Director of the School of Media and Public Affairs at George Washington University, moderated the panel.

Much of the discussion centered on the progress the global community has made in the fight against AIDS, while recognizing the profound challenges that still exist. The speakers also urged donors, countries and international partners to maintain and scale-up their efforts to fight the disease. These efforts must be collaborative and comprehensive, they noted, and they must attack the root of HIV with prevention efforts and measures to combat stigma around the world.

Many speakers, including Beldina Atieno, discussed the growing importance of nutrition in combating AIDS. Without proper nutrition, she explained, the effectiveness of anti-retroviral drugs is threatened, especially in children. Increasing food prices and declining food security are exacerbating the AIDS epidemic, the panelists concluded.

One message that resonated with the audience at this year’s World AIDS day was that it is indeed possible to halt the spread of AIDS. Tackling food insecurity, honoring commitments, working with international partners and reducing the stigma associated with AIDS can make tremendous strides in the fight to end the disease.

Check out the World Bank Group’s press release on the discussion.

TAGS: World AIDS Day, World AIDS Day 2009, World Bank